What to Do if the Roomba i7, i3, or 960 is Missing Rooms/Spots?

A roomba i7 vacuum on carpetA roomba i7 vacuum on carpet

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Roomba robot vacuums are a great addition to any smart home. Sometimes, however, you may experience problems with your Roomba not cleaning all rooms during a cleaning session.   

Let’s learn how to solve this issue so you can sit back and watch your Roomba work. 

Roomba i7, i3, or 960 is Missing Rooms

There are a few reasons your Roomba may have issues cleaning all the rooms or spots in your home. Some common solutions include:

  • Clear obstacles preventing your Roomba from reaching certain spots.
  • Make sure there’s adequate lighting for your Roomba to “see.”
  • Wipe down the wheels so your Roomba doesn’t have to work too hard to complete a full cleaning session.
  • Ensure your Roomba is on the docking station for plenty of time. On average, Roombas take two hours to fully charge.
  • Allow your Roomba to clean each room you want to be mapped. To create an accurate map of your home, avoid interrupting your Roomba during a cleaning session.

If none of the above seem to be the problem, you’ll need to start troubleshooting.

Start a Manual Cleaning Session

If a spot or room isn’t mapped, your Roomba won’t clean it. Try manually beginning a cleaning session by putting your Roomba in a specific spot and pressing the Clean button. This should add the spot to the map. 

If it still doesn’t clean those areas during your next cleaning session, try doing another Mapping Run in the iRobot app.

  1. In the iRobot app, select the Map icon.
  2. Tap the + icon in the top right corner of the app.
  3. Initiate a Mapping Run.

Check the App’s Settings 

Your settings could be telling your Roomba to only clean certain rooms, not all of them. Some settings you should check include:

  • Map settings. Review your “Keep Out Zones” and make sure you’re not telling your Roomba to avoid rooms you want cleaned.
  • Care & Maintenance. Ensure your Roomba doesn’t need any maintenance, or it may return to the base before it finishes cleaning.
  • Virtual Walls. If you have a virtual wall set up in an area you’d like to be vacuumed, you’ll need to move it so your Roomba can cross it.

Clean the Sensor and Brushes  

Although the Roomba is supposed to be self-operating, it still needs to be maintained. Cleaning the cliff sensors and brushes will enhance its general cleaning performance.

  1. Place your Roomba upside down on a towel and open the brush guard.
  2. Remove the brushes by pulling them up from the bearing end (colored yellow).
  3. Manually pull all the hair out of the brushes.
  4. Replace the brushes.
  5. Wipe your Roomba’s cliff sensors with a dry cloth.

Empty the Dustbin

If your Roomba’s dustbin is full, it won’t be able to adequately vacuum your home. 

  1. Press the Bin Release button on the back of your Roomba and remove the bin.
  2. Open the bin canister and empty the bin.
  3. Remove the filter by grasping it on its side.
  4. Shake off all the debris by gently tapping the filter against the inside of your trash can.
  5. Rinse the dustbin out with warm water and allow it to dry. Make sure not to get the filter wet. 
  6. Place the filter back into the Roomba dustbin.
  7. Slide the dustbin into the bin slot on your Roomba.

It’s important that you keep this part of your device clean so everything works properly. Your Roomba should also notify you when the dustbin needs to be emptied.

Note: The Roomba i7 should automatically empty its bin. If it’s not, check out our troubleshooting tips here. 

Reset Your Roomba

The Roomba i7, i3, and 960 have slightly different reset processes. To reset the Roomba i7 and 960:

  1. Press and hold the Home, Spot Clean, and Clean buttons.
  2. Wait until the ring around the Clean button lights up white, then release the buttons.
  3. Give it a few minutes to finish rebooting.

Once your Roomba finishes rebooting, you’re good to initiate a cleaning cycle. 

To reset your Roomba i3, press and hold the Clean button for about 20 seconds. The lights on your Roomba vacuum will start to flash. Once they stop, you can allow your Roomba to clean your home as usual. 

FAQ: Roomba Mapping

Why Does My Roomba Keep Getting Lost?

Roombas often get lost due to dirty sensors. If yours keeps getting lost, clean all the sensors on the docking station and the vacuum itself. 

Why is My Roomba Going to the Wrong Room?

If your Roomba keeps going to the wrong room, ensure it starts its cleaning session from its Home Base. 

Do Roombas Learn Your House?

Roombas learn how your home is set up through cleaning sessions and mapping runs. Typically, it takes between 3-5 cleaning sessions for your Roomba to create an accurate map.

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